I have been contacted by several people, who are not members of GCA but have been reading the thread, about the opinions they are seeing from avid walkers on GCA.com.
I was also BCC'd on an email by someone who was ordering a golf cart - that was really funny and pretty much made my day, thanks for that.
Not sure if all of the avid walkers would agree, but I would like to clarify my stance for anyone else out there who has been reading the thread and is "hurt" by any comments that have been made.
JIMO
1) If someone cannot walk due to medical or health reasons - read REAL reasons as opposed to I want to drink 20 beers or am lazy - then I fully support their ability to play a golf course via use of a cart - whether that course is Walking Only, Walking Friendly or Barely Walkable.
2) When I use the term "cart golf" and "cart golfer" I am referring to a course that only provides an option for "cart golf" or a golfer who chooses to take a cart instead of walking, and is thus a "cart golfer" by choice. I do not think there is anything wrong with being a cart golfer, but if you choose to take a cart on a walkable course then you are choosing to play "cart golf" instead of "golf".
3) People can play the game as they see fit, but the outcome of a rise in "cart golfers", is that in large numbers, they clearly have shown the ability to change golf course design, construction, etc. for the worse, because by playing "cart golf" developers, architects, etc. have determined that "cart golf" is something that a large number of consumers want and are willing to pay for, which has resulted in many unwalkable courses or architecturally devoid courses with paths scarring their landscape.
Golf courses that are "walkable" provide an option for a golfer to choose whether they want to walk or take a cart. The advent of "cart golf" courses have taken the choice out of a golfer's hands, in terms of how they can play. If you look at the Walkability Ratings, in certain states there is a very large number of Orange to Gray courses and very few Green or Yellow courses.
That is frightening, because golf is a walking game and golfers should have the option to play the game as intended, especially if the site in question could have provided a walkable golf course as opposed to a cart golf course.
On certain sites, there are no real options and the only way to construct a course is to make it "cart golf". I understand that if a developer wants a course on a tough site then an architect will build one, and it will be cart golf, and it makes sense.
But on many "cart golf" sites, a walkable course could have been created, regardless of whether it has elevation change, RE development aspect, etc. By creating a "cart golf" course, the architect, developer, etc. are supporting a type of golf where the experience and fitness benefits are being diluted. While that is obviously their choice, it is not something that I support as a walking golfer.
Do I support Walking Only courses, that allow carts for those who cannot walk for medical or health reasons, absolutely. Not only because they are rare in America, but because Golf is a walking game and that is how people should be encouraged to play/experience the game in order to avail of its many benefits.
In the future, I hope that developers and architects work together to build courses that are walkable at a minimum so we get people out of their carts and onto their feet exercising and playing the game as intended by its founders.
I also hope that Walking Only courses will welcome the small percentage of the population who cannot walk for medical or health reasons by providing carts. The dedication and commitment to the game that amputees, those with chronic pain, injuries, etc. show whenever they are out on the course is inspiring.